Wire-stretcher.



P. HAYS.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLIGATION FILED sEPT.1oV,1914.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

F HHYS' atto/1:1101;

FRED HAY-S, OF rASSUMP'IIION', ILLINOIS.

WIRE-STRETGHER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Application filed September 10, 1914. Serial No. 861,107.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED Hays', a citizen of the United States, residing at Assumption, in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have inventedV certain new and useful Improvements V'in Wire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in wire stretchers, andthe object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the wire to be stretched may be eiectively clamped, especially when such wirev comprises a plurality of strands, as employed in a fence structure. Y

`The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved wire stretcher whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein" Figure lis a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a clamp constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my present invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the device as disclosed in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view taken from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view in top plan of my complete wire stretcher; Fig. 5 is a central fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section illustrating vin detail the means herein embodied for imparting movement to the wedge member.

'As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes' an elongated strip of material provided at one extremitywith an extension 2, said extension being of less thickness than the thickness of the body 1. I nd in practice that it is particularly advantageous to have the body 1 formed of wood. Y.

The body 1 serves as the center member of the clamp included in my improved wire stretcher, and coacting with one face thereof is the outer member 3 provided with a plurality of longitudinally alined spaced slots 4, one extremity 5 whereof being'enlarged for a purpose to be hereinafter set Lforth,`

and the slots 4vare adapted to register with the opening 6 produced in the body 1. The

`outer member 3 is adapted to coact with the body to clamp the wire therebetween, such clamping action being attained'in a manner which will be hereinafter fully set forth.

Disposed through the alined slots 4 and openings 6 are the bolts 7 the heads whereof being capable of ready insertion through the enlarged portions 5 of the slots 4, whereby it will be readily perceived that the member 3 may be applied in operative position upon the body 1 in av convenient and effective manner. The yopposite extremities of the bolts 7 are directed through the elongated longitudinally disposed slots 8 produced in the wedge member 9 adapted to engage the opposite face of the body 1 and having coactingwith the inclined faces or wedges 10 the nuts 11, whereby it will be perceived that upon movement of the wedge memberv 9 in one direction requisite clamping tension maybe imposed upon the clamping member 3. The wedge member 9 is of a length to project slightly above the extremity of the body 1 provided with the exten-v sion 2.

Overlying the inner face of the extension 2 is the rack plate 12 anchored thereto by the vmedium of the bolts 15 and said-rack plate is adapted to be engagedby the pinion 16 rotatably supported in the frame 17 connected to the block 18 removably secured to the upper extremity of the wedge member 9, whereby the frame 17 and its concomitant parts may be readily removed from operative position when the necessities of practice kmay so require.

Pivotally engaged with the trunnions 19 of the pinion 16 and straddling the same is the forked member 2O provided Vin its base portion with an opening 21 through which projects the operating lever 22. Said lever 22 is provided with a head 23 engageable with the teeth of the pinion 16 whereby vthe requisite axial rotation may be imparted 'I thereto lin order to impart they requisite movement to the wedge member 9, and in orderthat the head 22 maybe disengaged from the teeth of the pinion so as to permit the requisite oscillation of the lever it is to be observed that the inner extremity of the opening 21 is enlarged torreceive Vthe head 23, whereby the requisite longitudinalmove ment may be imparted to the lever 22. The head 23 of the lever is adapted to normally engage the teeth of the pinion and in order to maintain this normal engagement I employ the expansible member 24e surrounding the lever 22 and interposed betweenthe head 23 thereof and the base of the enlarged. por` tion of the opening 2l and operating ina manner which is believed to be self-evident.

I find it of advantage in practice to interpose between the wedge member 9 and the body l the wear plate 25 provided with suitable openings through whichthe bolts 7 may be directed i One side of the body l has in swiveled engagement therewith the hook member 26 that affords a means whereby the iieXible member 27 of the stretcher proper may be engaged. While I particularly disclose hoolr's 26 I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in `this eXact particular as fany other means which will operate with equal facility may be employed.

The wire stretcher proper as herein disclosed. comprises the elongated member 28 provided with a longitudinally disposed elongated slotf29 and having its opposite margins intermediate the length thereof provided with the notches 30, and one eX- tremity of the memberi28 has suitably secured thereto a flexible member 31 adapted to be engaged with a stationary support or the like, so that the desired pull upon the clamp hereinbefore described may be effected. Coacting with the elongated member 28 is a slide 32 with which the flexible member 27 hereinbefore referred to is engaged. Said slideis also provided at opposite sides of the elongated member 28 with the extensions 33 with which are-pivotally engaged the plates 34 projecting from opposite sides ofthe lever 35. The plates 3A eX tend entirely across the elongated member and at opposite sides of'said member are provided with the U-shaped dogs 36 pivotally engaged with the plates 34 and adapted to coact with the notches 30 in a manner and for a purpose which is believed to be self-evident. Inf order to insure Ysuch enf gagement of the dogs 36 I interpose therebetween the retractable member 37 herein disclosed asa coiled spring having its opposite extremities suitably secured toy the dogs es.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a wire stretcher constructed ,in accordance with my inven-V tion is of an extremely simple and com-4 paratively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be`assembled,"and it will also bef'obvious that .my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without `mater-i291 `departure A.from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish .to be-understood as limiting myself to.

the precise arrangement and. formation of the several parts herein shownin out my inventionin practice.

I claim.: i'

l. A device of the character described in-` cluding a wire .clamp comprising `a body, aV

clamping plate overlying one faceofithe body, a Wedge plate-overlying theopposite face of the wedge plate being provided with elongated longitudinally disposed slots', meanscarried by the body disposed through the: slotsofe the clampingplate and wedge plate and.

carrying body, said clamping plate and.

serving as a ytensioning means, `a I'rack car.` Y

ried by anf'extremityof vthe body, a yframe on the body, by the frame rack, and means for imparting axial arotation to the pninionh 2. A device of the character described including a Wire clamp comprising a body, a clamping body, a wedge plate overlying the opposite face of the wedge plate being providedwith elongated longitudinally. disposed slots, means carplate 4overlying one face4 ofv Ithe l body, said clamping plate land:

detachably engaged with an extremity ofi the Wedge member and overlying the rack` a ypinion rotatably supported and adapted to mesh withy the t ried by the body disposed through the slots H Y of the clamping plate .and` wedge plate and serving as a tensioningmeans, .a rack .carried by an extremity i detachably engaged fwith an extremity` of of the body, a-frame loo the wedge member, a pinion providedwwith trunnions whereby the pinion is rotatablyA engaged, with the frame, a forked member straddling the Vpinion .and pivotally i engaging the trunnions thereof, said forked memlos ber being provided-in its base portion with an opening, and an .operating lever projecting from the opening andk engageable lwith the pinion, said lever being .capable of longitudinal movement relative to the pinion.

3. A device of the character described in- A cluding a wireclamp'comprising a body, a clamping plate'overlying lone face ofthe body, awedge plate overlying'the opposite faceof the body, Wedge plate being` provided longitudinally disposed slots,` means carried ried by an extremity of the body, a frame detachably engaged with an extremity ofthe wedge member, a pinion provided with trunnions whereby the pinion is lrotatably engagedwith the frame, a forked'inember Streddlne the. peien and lpivotallr @Illegaa-y llslthtlermens thel'eef, Said forked men-y iio ber being provided in its base portion with In-testimony whereof I hereunto aiii'x my an opening andv an operaing leverblroject signature in the presence of two Witnesses. ing from the opening an enga ea e Wit the pinion, said lever being capble of lon- FRED HAYS' gitudinal movement relative to the pinion, Witnesses:

and means for normally maintaining the le- HENRY OTTA, ver in engagement with the pinion. CHAS. JENKINS.

Copies et this patent may be obtained for nve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Y WashingtonJJ. C. 

